A few words about cookies - that is, how the power was transferred to the user
A few words about cookies - that is, how the power was transferred to the user
For many of us, cookie notifications on websites are a necessary evil: that annoying pop-up window that stands in front and interferes with the use of the page until you can click out of the way. Does it sound familiar?
Your Data Privacy Matters
In recent years, the website has been told about the cookies used by online services something like this: "This website uses cookies. By using this page, you accept the use of cookies." There is usually an Ok button, which can be used to hide the pop-up window.
Now the situation has changed. Perhaps you have already noticed that cookie notices have started to appear on online services, where you can not only accept cookies, but also reject them: either partially or completely. What is it about?
Cookies are used more and more these days
Basically, cookies are needed for websites to work as they should. Such cookies are called mandatory cookies. Alongside this, however, a whole host of other uses have appeared. Nowadays, it is quite common to monitor how your own website works: which contents interest you the most, how long the page is visited or which device is used to browse the site. Targeting ads to a user who has visited a website is also quite commonplace. Since many of these tools need cookies to function, the use of different types of cookies on websites has increased enormously.
The purpose of cookies is therefore not only to enable the operation of the website, but also to make life easier: companies want to develop their services with the help of analytics and offer their customers the kind of advertising that interests them.
Today, cookies can be divided into four different categories:
- Mandatory cookies that are necessary for the website to function
- Functional cookies that improve and facilitate the use of the site
- Cookies used for analytics and statistics
- Cookies used for marketing and targeting.
Several websites also display various third-party plug-ins, the most familiar of which are probably social media sharing buttons. They can be used when the user is logged into their social media account.
Cookie practices are monitored - also in Belgium
Another reason why cookie practices are now developing rapidly is that the authorities that control the use of cookies have begun to pay attention to the issue. In October 2019 , the EU Court ruled that storing cookies on the user's computer requires the user's consent.
The topic began to surface in the EU May 2020, when the data protection commissioner's office issued an order to the company for the first time to change the way in which it asked the user for consent to the use of cookies. Since then, new types of cookie notifications have started to appear on the web service, if not on another.
The user can decide
So a notification about the use of cookies is no longer enough, and neither is just an ok button. First, permission must be obtained from the user to use non-mandatory cookies. Refusing cookies must also be made as easy for the user as accepting them.
In addition, the page must state the following:
- What cookies are used on the page?
- What purpose are cookies used for?
- How long are cookies valid?
- Are third parties allowed to use cookies?
Simply put, the bottom line is this: the user is now the boss when it comes to surfing the web. He should be able to decide whether the site remembers his previous visit to the page, whether advertising is targeted at him or whether the statistics analyze which page the user spent the longest on.
And that's how it should be - because online services are built for users. Our task, on the other hand, is to play by the rules so that we make it as easy as possible for the user.
P.S. If you are now thinking that you can manage those cookies from the browser as well. Yes, this is absolutely true. The problem lies in the fact that the alternatives are worse: some browsers, for example, allow you to refuse all cookies. Then we suddenly find ourselves in a situation where, for example, logging into online banking or e-mail is not possible. Not very convenient, huh?
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